Population Structure in Rural Communities of Córdoba, Argentina: Marriage Patterns and Immigration Effect during Early 20th Century

Abstract

Besides its cultural and social impact, immigration also has biological consequences. Mate selection may be affected with the arrival of immigrants, altering the identity and genetic variability of the population. In this research, marriage patterns of creoles and immigrants in two rural populations in Córdoba, Argentina were analyzed using data from marriage certificates from three subsequent periods: before, during and after the immigration during the early 20^th century. RP, consanguinity coefficients through isonymy, intra-group and inter-group kinship coefficients and Fst were calculated for these periods.

Despite its proximity, the populations showed different behavior. In Morteros, marriage between immigrants was favored, as were marriages between relatives and within family lineages. In Villa Concepción del Tío, marriage between locals was more frequent, as were marriages within family lineages, although in the latter years mixed marriages increased. Differences between the populations may be due to their history and population size as well as group distribution.